Boost for new online Cumbria food service
Last updated at 19:59, Thursday, 12 January 2012
A new online shopping service delivering Cumbrian produce to homes across the county has found its message has spread further than was expected.
Cumbrian Food Direct began deliveries less than two months ago and had intended concentrating only on delivering in the county.
But marketing manager Kerry McPhee said that, before Christmas, people started ordering hampers to send around the country as gifts.
Cumbrian Food Direct, which has its headquarters on the Solway Estate in Maryport, is a Big Lottery regeneration project.
Customers contact its website and place orders which come from producers around the county.
It began deliveries two weeks before Christmas and has been doing around 20 deliveries a week.
Ms McPhee said: “That is a good start, especially when they are not always the same customers. We are building up business.”
She said the most popular items so far were hand-crafted butter, milk, baked goods and fruit and vegetables.
Matt Green and Steve Hitchen have been appointed as part-time delivery drivers and the firm has joined with Cumbria Cottages, which rents out holiday cottages in the area.
Cumbrian Food Direct will deliver food to the cottages for the arrival of holidaymakers.
Ms McPhee said it would become a significant part of the business and would show people from other parts of the country what was produced in Cumbria.
First published at 19:23, Thursday, 12 January 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk
I received my first order last week, a variety of meat, pies, confectionery, diary produce, fish! I am delighted with everything we've had so far and will definitely be buying again.
Well done and many thanks CFD
People, please support local producers.
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Have your say
The quality and variety of the food is excellent and it's local. There are good basics and luxery treats. The deliveries are prompt and they deliver to the workplace. This is so much better than queuing at the supermarket and it's supporting local workers. Great gift hampers too for presents and presentations.
Posted by Joan Ellis on 17 January 2012 at 09:45